: Leader of opposition Congress Tokheho Yepthomi Thursday, raised the issue of corruption in the department of school education alleging that the minister Nyeiwang Konyak “set aside” Rs.51 lakhs for himself and Rs.21 lakhs for the Director of education and demanded to know whether the minister has any such discretionary powers. Raising the matter during a supplementary on the criteria for grant-in-aid to private school and institutions, Tokheho alleged that Nyeiwang had on March 23 last signed a paper, setting aside Rs.51 lakh under his discretion and Rs.20 lakh under the discretion of director school education. He wanted the minister to furnish details of Rs.51 lakh “set aside” and also demanded an apology to the house for giving wrong information.Giving his reply, Nyeiwang Konyak clarified that “there is no such provision to set aide fund” and assured he would provide details of how Rs.51 lakh was utilized to the house. Nyeiwang explained that as the education department, at times, has to attend to genuine case, besides the grand-in-aid already worked out.While not denying the expenditure, Nyeiwang said as minister he had to attend many function (s) as chief guest, such as inauguration of schools, celebration of golden/silver jubilee of various students organizations in all parts of the state without any budget provisions. However, he assured that if necessary, he would provide detailed list of how Rs.51 lakh was spent for various purposes. In his written reply to the starred question, the minister said that department was providing grant-in-aid to private schools and private institutions where during 2008-09 the budget provision was Rs.1,25, 13,000 and Rs.5,35,13,000 during 2009-10. He also disclosed that grant-in-aid was sanctioned to government recognized private schools based on their enrolment and academic performance.On the Nagaland Education Mission Society (NMES), he said under RMSA during the 2009-10 till October 2010 , the department received Rs.10, 94, 00,000.Replying to the Opposition leader, the minister said that North East Consultancy Services, Aizawl (Mizoram) was appointed as consultant for eight years from 2009-2010 to 2016-17. He also informed that Thejao Vihienuo was appointed mission director of RMSA.In his supplementary, Tokheho Yepthomi wanted to know whether the consultant was appointed by floating advertisement. The minister replied in the negative but cited a MHRD guideline that it was bound to appoint a Consultant. Further, in his supplementary Tokheho Yepthomi said that the 11 DMAs submitted a submitted a representation against appointment of the Consultant and wanted to know on what basis the Mission Director of RMSA was appointed whether on promotion, contract or ad hoc basis. Meanwhile, in a press handout, Tokheho Yepthomi, the Congress Legislature Party leader, who is also the opposition leader,charged that almost all the departments were entrenched deeply in siphoning and drawing public money for themselves.In the handout, Tokheho alleged that the “rate race” to siphon off public funds in various departments under the DAN government, has landed the state in a precarious financial position, to the extent, that payment of pension and other benefits to retired employees could not be paid. Citing the case with the Nagaland Education Mission Society(NEMS) with the chief minister as chairman and chief secretary as member-secretary Tokheho said a consultancy firm from Aizawl was appointed w.e.f. 2009-10 to 2012 and period further extended to 2016-17.He said that as per the agreement, the consultancy fee for the NECS(Aizawl) was to be 1.5% of the total amount and that full payment would be made within 30 days of project approval. Till date an amount of Rs.4.52 crore has been paid to consultant with 1.5% as consultancy fees and 8% for civil works, Tokheho said.“Consultancy fee of 1.5% is in the agreement but 8% for civil works is not inserted in the first agreement,” Tokheho pointed.He also alleged that an amount of Rs.30 lakh was spent for printing one page “ordinary calendar,” and said the price for the calendar was “highly exorbitant” and that it also did not bear the name of the printer.Further, he pointed out that under the head grant-in-aid for infrastructure the total amount was Rs.5, 35, 13,000, out of which the education minister had drawn Rs.51 lakh while the Director Education had drawn Rs. 21 lakh. Stating that as per the record, the minister’s drawing was under ‘ financial assistance to schools’ , Tokheho demanded that the list of schools provided such assistance be made public. On withdrawal of Rs.21 lakhs by the Director of Education, Tokheho said it was mentioned as under interview of G.T and P.T . He demanded to know the specific places, dates and authority conducting the ‘interviews’. On the appointment of the consultancy firm, Tokheho fired several questions such as - “why the consultancy has to be chosen without putting any notice in the media and the other advertising agency. What was the need for monitoring by district mission authority? Why the agency has to be paid 8% for civil works which is not in the original agreement clause? What is the use of communitising the education sector with VEC, WEC and SMB level? Why should the agreement be made for 8 long years period?”Asserting that education was vital organ of the society, the CLP leader urged the government not to play with education of the younger generation.Demanding from both the government and education minister to come out with clear answers and convince the public, the opposition Congress said without which it would not remain a silent spectator to all “these misdeeds and corruptions at the expense of our younger generation in whom out future lies.”The CLP leader has highlighted that an amount of Rs.1732 lakh was received by the forest department from 13th finance commission Award (FCA) in 2010-2011. He also highlighted the earmarked amount for financial assistance, establishment of nursery, bamboo plantation and the like (See the table). Tokheho demanded that the fund provided and programmes should reach the targeted people so as to achieve the goal of the 13th FCA. Other works highlighted by CLP leader included: Creation of fire lines in Tuensang -Rs.20lakh and Doyang- Rs.50 lakh, Training awareness- Rs.20 lakh for PCCT and Rs.30 lakh for SEFT, fuel wood saving initiative FUO- Rs. 80 lakh, sericulture- Rs.24 lakh, broom grass for livelihood-Tuli- Rs 25 lakh and Agar plantation-Tuli- Rs.25 lakh.